Media collusion cultivates corruption

April 24, 2016

OPINION by DANIEL BLACKBURN

Let’s not parse words: the local daily newspaper is the leading cause of widespread governmental corruption so widely associated with San Luis Obispo County.

This truism was driven home Sunday morning when The Tribune’s editorial board cheerily backed Adam Hill for another District 3 supervisor’s term, ignoring an ever-growing accumulation of solid evidence that Hill is deeply flawed personally and professionally, and is on the take from local developers.

Ironically, The Tribune’s unctuous endorsement of Hill came only hours after their own reporter, Kaytlyn Leslie, wrote a front-page article about the disintegrating District 3 political campaign and the corrosive role social media is playing in that battle.

Hill told Leslie that the social media venom surrounding his campaign is “not something that we should continue to tolerate. It feels like it’s crossed the line.” He also said he doesn’t condone the negativity coming from his supporters.

I’m betting that Hill’s own Internet trolls laughed out loud when they heard that comment, knowing so well that Hill himself is the architect of the acrimony, having assembled a cabal of attack dogs to spew his poison 24-7. Because while Hill may “tsk-tsk” his trolls publicly, he nevertheless regularly passes on their hateful commentaries to his constituents using county resources.

Let’s start with Hill’s more recent antics. Did The Tribune’s board of unctuous editors take into account that this Little Man has been trying to destroy local media figures because he objects to their reporting?

Put aside his ongoing feud with this news site; if CalCoastNews was his only target you wouldn’t hear a peep of complaint from me. But his arrogant efforts to torpedo radio talk show icons Dick Mason and Dave Congalton — trying to get them fired — because he disagreed with their on-air comments should raise a red flag or two for anyone calling themselves a journalist. Or for anyone who values a freely functioning press.

Supervisor Adam Hill

This supervisor’s behavior has gone unreported by The Tribune.

And to management at KKJL and KVEC: shame, shame, shame on you for condescending to the Little Man and allowing him to get away with his threats and badgering.

Hill’s trolls recently have aimed their bile at family members of people he considers impediments to his reelection. Several months ago, as Hill was actively lobbying management at KKJL to fire Mason, one of the supervisor’s trolls, his own wife Dee Torres-Hill, turned her rancor on Mason’s daughter, who doesn’t even live in this county.

Then Dan Carpenter, one of two remaining Hill challengers for the District 3 seat, found his own daughter’s photograph and accompanying personal disparagement posted on one of Hill’s troll’s sites.

The Little Man’s exploitation of opponents’ family members for political gain is nothing new.

It was first noticed last year, when Pismo Beach Mayor Shelly Higgenbotham withdrew from the District 3 race, saying she wanted to focus on her family. At the time, a report on this site noted that “multiple sources told CalCoastNews that Hill and his campaign have made several public records requests for information on the Higginbothams while dispersing negative claims about her family members.”

Dave Congalton

Dave Congalton’s wife has been insulted repeatedly by Hill’s trolls, and Hill has tried repeatedly to get Congalton fired.

Anyone over 40 should remember presidential candidate Ross Perot’s withdrawal from the 1992 race after threats were made against his adult daughter’s reputation. A key player in the Perot incident was San Luis Obispo County resident Scott Barnes.

A “60 Minutes” program reported that “the only source that Perot would identify for his accusations was Barnes, a former police officer who for years has been accused of fabricating stories about undercover plots and dirty tricks. Perot said in the interview that Barnes was one of those who told him of the doctored photograph.”

That apparently became the template for Hill’s scandalous behavior today.

Dick Mason

But back to The Tribune, and the blinders worn by its editorial board.

Leslie’s front-page article surprisingly made clear that Hill, despite his protestations to the contrary, is backing his tawdry team’s smear techniques and assaults on the reputations of his perceived “enemies.” That didn’t sway the editorial board, which simply ignores Hill’s shortcomings. Why? It would appear the (D) after his name tells it all.

This would have been the proper time for The Tribune to take a neutral stance on the District 3 race, in view of the mounting pile of evidence that would damn virtually anyone but their favored politico.

This blind allegiance to obvious civic malfeasance in this county is the reason corruption is allowed to flourish. For this, the daily must take considerable responsibility, for nothing prevents official misconduct more than the harsh light of public attention.

Hill complains that CalCoastNews has written “99 hit pieces” about him in the last few years. Now the Little Man can round it off to an even 100.

CalCoastNews Senior Correspondent Daniel Blackburn can be reached at blackburn.danielj@gmail.com.

The comments below represent the opinion of the writer and do not represent the views or policies of CalCoastNews.com. Please address the Policies, events and arguments, not the person. Constructive debate is good; mockery, taunting, and name calling is not. Comment Guidelines

achillesheal

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

Put that doofus pictur of Adam hill on a billboard. It so sums up his miserable and pathetic existence.

Great article, too.

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04/24/2016 3:18 pm

OtisCampbell

Follow the money

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04/24/2016 3:15 pm

phoenix.rising

Get a clue voter and vote Adam Hill OUT!

Dan Carpenter is the only one who has the b _ _ _s to stand up to Adam Hill.

The other candidate is playing nice then why would we go there as this candidate is too weak to fight the bully.

Dan is The Man!!!!

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04/24/2016 3:06 pm

the situation

Recipe for getting away with anything in SLO County….

#1 Pay the Tribune at least $2,000 per month for “advertising”. That way they will have a “moral” obligation not to print anything bad about you

#2 Pay off local politicians by making them “paid consultants” for your company

#3 Do what ever the hell you want

#4 Rinse and repeat!

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04/24/2016 3:05 pm

Kaiser Bill

I don’t see the connection between Hill and Scott Barnes.

This article is high on vitriol. Let Hill’s awful record speak for itself.

Focus on Hill’s connections to his developer chums Gary Grossman and John Belsher.

Educate voters about Hill’s record and he will be back in some Jersey Swamp like Perth Amboy where he belongs.

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04/24/2016 3:02 pm

just the facts

Adam Hill has been viciously attacking his challenger, Dan Carpen, for months.

Adam Hill is seriously threatened by Dan Carpenter. I say to the 3rd District voters: Vote for Dan Carpenter this election!

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04/24/2016 2:57 pm

Hongo

You had me at “Let’s not parse words.” ;-)

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04/24/2016 2:56 pm

Vagabond

The Tribune, AKA Fibune, AKA Trivune, Is, and has been for decades, Worse than nothing.

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04/24/2016 1:32 pm

SLOBodan

And, THIS is the reason I cancelled my subscription to the Tribune after last November’s election period. Their biased reporting, backing their social club members, and not really evaluating who is the best candidate, shows me that they are not capable of fair reporting.

I keep getting letters from the Tribune to come back, and I write a big note on each receipt (and have them pay return postage!) stating why I will never subscribe to the Tribune again.

Adam Hill is a dirty player (that ought to bring in some thumbs down from his cronies who think we care!), and the sooner he is out of local politics the quicker we may be on the road to healing the ethics of this county.

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04/24/2016 1:29 pm

pasoparent5

Mr. Blackburn writes: “This blind allegiance to obvious civic malfeasance in this county is the reason corruption is allowed to flourish.”